THE FOOT. 419 



ward inflections, the bars. When macerated and 

 removed from its connection, it will be seen to 

 present a toe, bonnded bv the toe of the wall ; a 

 middle, or central part, which lies immediately 

 around the point of the frog ; the two heels, or 

 points, which are received in the spaces between view uk the 



,1 , , 1,11 , SOLE,ORU.M>ER 



the quarters and the bars ; and two surfaces, the ^^J^r!' "^^ '^'"^ 

 upper and lower. The inferior surface is con- isonV^'tu^'i^f^ 

 cave, (hollowed out), the degree of concavity be- o'oS?/;?!?;. .hioh 

 ing greater in some horses' feet than in others- parJd'do\Vn"'a'l''if 



1 i • , 1 1 . -, « , ' *'"* custom of black- 



also, greater m the hmd-feet than in the fore ^"^"^c1- ^^^^ '?"^'« 



Ongg <l d, Crust of hoof, 



the seat of the shoe. 



The superior surface of the sole is convex, (rounded), and 

 corresponds with the inferior surface. It is not perfectly uni- 

 form in its convexity, but a little more elevated at certain places 

 than at others. It is marked by numerous very small holes, 

 which are made by the little projections, called villi, from the 

 sensitive sole, and from whose orifices, or mouths, the horn of 

 the sole is secreted, or thrown out. 



The thickness of the sole, in its natural state, is said to be 

 about one-sixth of an inch, but it is thicker in some parts than 

 others, the thicker parts being near the union with the bars 

 and the heels, that part near the union with the Avails being the 

 thinnest. 



The frog is the spong}-, wedge-shaped body which occupies 

 the space between the bars, giving i^rominence and suj^iport to 

 the back part of the foot. (See a a, in cut.) 



The- frog is^ divided, for description, into two surfaces, the 

 superior and inferior, or upper and lower; two sides, a point, 

 or toe, and two bulbs, or heels. These divisions are not natu- 

 rally very well marked, but are very convenient for reference 

 and description. Turning the bottom of the foot toward us, 

 we observe two deep grooves, one starting at each of the heels 

 of the crust, and running toward the center of the foot, but 

 gradually becoming shallower as they pass forward, and finally 



